Life at The Glen
Transportation Information
It is paramount that everyone is safe in the school’s parking lot and driveways. Please be considerate, cautious and safety conscious at all times – while driving, parking and escorting children to and from the car. You can download a site access map here.
Car line: Primary & Elementary Arrival ONLY, 8:30 – 8:45AM
Your child will be met at your car by a staff member and escorted into the school, so there is no need for parents to leave the car. Please be sure to stay within the car lane until it is your turn to have you child taken from the car. The pedestrian lane must be observed to allow room for students to exit the car. State law mandates that children under the age of eight be securely fastened in an approved car seat, so please wait for the Glen’s staff member to unbuckle your child.
Infants and Toddlers do not use carline and should be escorted to the classroom door. If you have an older child and an Infant or Toddler, please drop off the older child in car line first, then swing around and enter the building to drop off the younger child.
Parking:
Parking can be a challenge at certain times of the day, but it is critical that cars are parked in the marked spaces in front of the building and along the sides of driveways if necessary. It is not permissible to block driveways or park in unpaved areas.
Do not leave children unaccompanied in parked cars at any time.
Escorting children:
Please hold your child’s hand as you escort them to and from the school and be alert for moving vehicles.
Classroom Observations
Often parents ask, “What does my child do each day?” To answer that question and to help improve the understanding of Montessori’s theory of education, The Glen has adopted an Observation Policy that we hope will broaden and heighten each parent’s view of the classroom education your child is experiencing.
An Observation is designed and structured to allow you to really observe what typically happens on any given day in a Montessori classroom. By being a passive observer in the classroom, each parent will have the opportunity to observe your child as they interact intellectually and socially within the controlled environment. Observations begin in November and continue through April. Parents may select a one-hour observation slot from the book available at the front desk. We ask that you respect the confidentiality of our school community members in any conversation you might have about your Observation in the classroom.
Delays & Closings
In the event of inclement weather, please listen to radio station KDKA (1020 AM), watch KDKA television, or log on to www.kdka.com. The Glen Montessori School will announce any delay or closing using the school’s name. A weather-related delay will result in a 10:00 AM start.
Health Policy
Children who are sick should not be brought to school. Please keep your child home if any of the following symptoms are present:
- Fever – Diarrhea – Vomiting – Severe Cough / Sore Throat
- Mouth Sores – Impetigo (until 24 hours after treatment)
- Strep Throat (until 24 hours after treatment)
- Runny Nose with Yellow / Green Discharge
- Rash (undiagnosed)
- Head Lice (until all nits are removed)
- Chickenpox (until lesions have dried and crusted – usually 6 days)
- Pink eye or eye discharge (until on antibiotic for 24 hours)
To help prevent the spread of illness to others, your child should be symptom free for 24 hours before returning to school, especially if sent home from school.
If your child develops a contagious disease such as measles, fifth disease, pink eye, mumps, strep throat or chicken pox; please contact the school immediately so the Health Department and other parents can be notified.
See the Parent Handbook for the school’s complete Health Policy.
Birthdays
Classes celebrate each child’s birthday with a special ceremony at circle time. The birthday child holds a globe and walks around the circle one time for each year of his/her life. A candle is placed in the center of the circle to symbolize the sun and the earth’s yearly revolution. While the birthday child walks around the circle, the directress likes to share something about each year of his/her life with the rest of the class. Pictures or mementos from each year and wonderful things to share with the class. Parents are welcome to join the class for these celebrations. Children with summer birthdays are encouraged to celebrate their half birthday.
The Glen does not serve a special snack for birthdays. As an alternative, parents are welcome to look at their teacher’s list in the school’s Wish Box and purchase a gift for their child’s classroom. Donating a book in honor of your child’s birthday is also a nice idea. Any of these ideas are by choice.
If you are hosting a birthday party for your child, please do not hand out invitations at school or through the school mail boxes to avoid hurt feelings. Thank you cards, party bags or gifts also should not be handed out at school.
Nut Free Zone
The Glen Montessori is a Nut Free Zone due to the increasing severity of allergies among students. Students are not allowed to bring any food to school in lunches or for classroom snacks that contain any nuts, peanuts, peanut butter or peanut oil.